Downtown Anaheim revival means business

For Sadeghi, finding the right mix of tenants has been one of the biggest tasks. "We don't have the luxury of getting national tenants," he said.

Instead, his team focuses on what he calls "vampire leasing – finding new blood."

"Whatever we put there has to have a reason. It has to be well-curated, it has to have authenticity and it has to connect with the community," he said. "We're looking for entrepreneurial operators who are very involved with products and handcrafters that have the same cultural sensibilities that we're trying to develop in Anaheim."

To do that, Sadeghi and his team have turned to familiar faces.

He approached Lynda Santos, the previous director of operations for Native Foods Café at The Camp in Costa Mesa before the eatery changed owners. "I had a shoebox of recipes that I had been keeping from my travels to Europe," Santos said. "When Shaheen talked to me about opening my own place, it was scary for me, but I knew there was no getting around him."

Sadeghi and Santos bounced around names for a vegan fast casual eatery inside Good Food. "We kept saying it's junk food, but healthy. One day, we said, 'Why don't we just call it Healthy Junk'?"

To emphasize the healthy message, Santos displays colorful vegetables and fruits in see-through bins under the eatery's walk-up counter.

Other LAB Holdings tenants also have opened second locations at the promenade, including The LAB's Gypsy Den restaurant and The Camp's 118 Degrees, a fast casual eatery. Purre, a clothing and accessories boutique at The Camp, has opened a sibling store called The Look on Center Street.

Sadeghi isn't finished with promenade leasing. In the next few months, a cheesemonger is slated to open near Hair Remedy Shoppe and a few more eateries and shops are in the works.

Residents who live in nearby buildings have been following the changes. On Thursday, Wind Ralston, who lives a quick stroll away at Harbor Lofts, took his 11-month-old for a walk, while his wife, Christina, stopped in Home Eco:Nomics to buy a card.

"There was nothing here when we moved in four years ago," Ralston said. "Now, we eat at the restaurants at least twice a week and shop here because we want to support the local businesses."

Related Links

Remedy Hair Shoppe in Anaheim is located on The Center Street Promenade, a shopping and dining street. KAREN TAPIA, FOR THE REGISTER
As seen through one of the many mosaic-decorated benches are from left, Kaitlyn Nunez and Shannon Hayes who were visiting from Arizona. Center Street Promenade is a shopping and dining street conceived by LAB Holding, owners of The LAB and The Camp. KAREN TAPIA, FOR THE REGISTER
Good Food is a collection of counter service eateries, including Healthy Junk and Cervantes Mexican Kitchen. It's located at Center Street Promenade, a shopping and dining street conceived by LAB Holding, owners of The LAB and The Camp. KAREN TAPIA, FOR THE REGISTER
Many sculptures and artwork are on the corners of Center Street Promenade, a shopping and dining street conceived by LAB Holding, owners of The LAB and The Camp. KAREN TAPIA, FOR THE REGISTER
Training his dog, is Greg Steph of Anaheim, at Center Street Promenade. KAREN TAPIA, FOR THE REGISTER
Janelle Hann works inside HOME ECO:NOMICS an eco-conscious store for home, body and soul, with artisanal products. It's located at Center Street Promenade in Anaheim. KAREN TAPIA, FOR THE REGISTER
Crystal Marston prepares coffee inside the restaurant, The Gypsy Den located at Center Street Promenade in Anaheim. KAREN TAPIA, FOR THE REGISTER
Crystal Marston pours coffee to customer, Nicole Monk of Long Beach. They are at The Gypsy Den located at Center Street Promenade in Anaheim. KAREN TAPIA, FOR THE REGISTER
Nicole Monk left of Long Beach has lunch with her mother, Judy Monk of Fullerton. They are at The Gypsy Den located at Center Street Promenade in Anaheim KAREN TAPIA, FOR THE REGISTER
Good Food is a collection of counter service eateries, including Healthy Junk and Cervantes Mexican Kitchen. KAREN TAPIA, FOR THE REGISTER
Douglas Moon of Irvine waits for his food in front of a sign that reads, "Junk Bar" inside Good Food, a collection of counter service eateries. Junk Bar is an offshoot of Healthy Junk, located at Center Street Promenade in Anaheim. KAREN TAPIA, FOR THE REGISTER
A couple is reflected in a sculpture on Center Street Promenade in Anaheim. KAREN TAPIA, FOR THE REGISTER
Tracy Sato has her hair done by stylist, Alyssa Stopani at Remedy Hair Shoppe, located at Center Street Promenade in Anaheim. KAREN TAPIA, FOR THE REGISTER
Good Food is a collection of counter service eateries, including Healthy Junk and Cervantes Mexican Kitchen. It's located at Center Street Promenade, a shopping and dining street conceived by LAB Holding, owners of The LAB and The Camp. KAREN TAPIA, FOR THE REGISTER
Center Street Promenade in Anaheim. KAREN TAPIA, FOR THE REGISTER
Hats at the Look, a store located at Center Street Promenade. KAREN TAPIA, FOR THE REGISTER

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